Muntari: ‘Ibrahimovic talked too much for Ballon d’Or, Mourinho…’ | OneFootball

Former Inter and Milan midfielder Sulley Muntari says Zlatan Ibrahimovic ‘talked too much’ to win the Ballon d’Or and recalls José Mourinho’s call to bring him to Inter.

The former midfielder played for Inter and Milan in Serie A, joining the Nerazzurri in 2008.

“Mourinho was in Ghana in 2008 during the AFCON. I was playing for Portsmouth, and we had played well against Chelsea,” the 40-year-old told diretta.it

“After the AFCON and during the entire pre-season, my agent would call me to say: ‘Maybe Inter will get in touch.’ One day I put some good crosses in during a training session and Redknall said smiling: ‘Here’s why a top club like Inter want to sign you.’

Muntari: ‘Ibrahimovic talked too much for Ballon d’Or, Mourinho…’

epa08784184 Milan’s Brahim Diaz (L) celebrates with his teammate Zlatan Ibrahimovic after scoring the 1-0 goal during the UEFA Europa League Group H soccer match AC Milan vs Sparta Prague at Giuseppe Meazza stadium in Milan, Italy, 29 October 2020. EPA-EFE/MATTEO BAZZI

“That same day, José called me and asked: ‘Do you want to play for me?’ I said yes, and he replied: ‘I’ll see you in Milan tomorrow.’ The day after, I signed for Inter. The rest is history.”

Muntari’s Inter defied the odds in the 2009-10 season and went on to win the treble, including the Champions League. According to the best betting sites in Italy, the Nerazzurri are the most likely Italian team to lift the Cup With The Big Ears this season.

Muntari won the Serie A title twice with the Nerazzurri and finished second in 2011-12 with Milan.

That Scudetto was particularly controversial as Muntari had scored a goal against the Old Lady at San Siro, but it did not stand as the referee, and his assistant had not seen the ball crossing the line.

“We could have won the title that season, but Juventus were from another world with Conte. Oh my God, they used to run so much. Crazy,” said Muntari.

“The Goal Line Technology was introduced in the following year. If the goal had stood, perhaps Ibra and Thiago Silva would have stayed, and we would have built an extraordinary team, but this is part of life.”

Muntari played with Ibrahimovic in both Milanese clubs.

“He didn’t intimidate me as a teammate, not at all,” said the former midfielder.

“He only wanted the best from everyone. He would win games easily, regardless of his team in training. I played with him at Inter and Milan. He was a top player, one of the best of his era. They didn’t want to give him the Ballon d’Or because he talked too much.”

Muntari scored 27 goals in 270 Serie A matches, providing 21 assists.

He also played for Udinese and Pescara in Serie A and retired in 2021-22 after playing 11 matches with Ghana Premier League side Accra Hearts of Oak S.C.